Awning shutter



W. HURST AWNING SHUTTER Feb. 25, 1969 Sheet Filed JamfigglQ/S'T INVENTOR.

W. HURST AWNING SHUTTER Feb. 25, 1969 Sheet Filed Jan. 24. 1967 Willard Hurst INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,429,070 AWNING SHUTTER Willard Hurst, Willard Awning Shutter Co., 4210 NW. 35th Court, Miami, Fla. 33142 Filed Jan. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 611,303 US. Cl. 49-158 10 Claims Int. Cl. E06b 3/00, /00

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shutter for windows, glass doors or any other type of opening which are pivotally supported for orientation in an outwardly inclined position to serve as a shutter and also longitudinally slidable supported so that the shutters may be stored in a position alongside of the window or other opening with the shutters being securely anchored in their various positions. The shutter includes assembly features including hollow frame components filled with a foam plastic material to insulate against noise, vibration and also the frame and slats of the awning are so associated the the slats are inserted into a self-centering hole in the frame members with the side of the hole contacting the slat at two opposite positions to prevent the slat from being scratched while being assembled.

An object of the present invention is to provide an awning shutter which is supported from a position above a window or similar opening so that the awning may pivot about a horizontal axis above the window to a position to serve as an awning rather than being pivoted about a vertical axis alongside of the window as is the situation with conventional shutters. The shutter is also supported for sliding movement between a position overlying a window or similar opening to a position alongside thereof to enable the shutters to be stored in a position alongside of a wall surface outwardly of the lateral side edges of a window or similar opening.

An object of the present invention is to provide an awning shutter assembly adapted for use over Sliding glass doors whereby the shutter may slide in relation to the window to serve as a protector shutter for the glass doors and to be positioned alongside of the glass door opening in order to store the shutters.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an awning shutter in accordance with the preceding objects in which the shutter is provided with a supporting header bracket at the upper outer edge thereof for detachably supporting additional shutter elements in stored position alongside of a window opening or the like so that a relatively wide window opening may be closed by standard width shutter elements with the additional shutter elements being stored in stacked position on top of each other alongside of the window thereby facilitating the storage of the shutters in inoperative position.

A shutter panel assembly where the slats of the shutter assembly are inclined with rolled edges extending on opposite sides thereof and openings in the frame of the shutter assembly are shaped to receive the slats therethrough. The frame is hollow and filled with a foam-type insulation that adds structural rigidity and insulates against sound propagation since the ends of the slats are embedded to the insulation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a shutter construction having structural features to enable secure mounting of the shutter in an inclined position to serve as an awning and also in position to serve as a protective shutter and also to secure the shutter in stored position alongside of a window or the like.

Another important feature of the present invention is to provide a shutter which is pivotally and slidably sup- 3,429,070 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 ported by a continuous header bracket which is simple in construction, easy to install, long lasting, dependable, elfective in various uses, versatile in use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter de scribed and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the shutter assembly of the present invention installed in relation to a window illustrating one of the shutters in a stored position and the other of the shutters in protective position to a portion of the window;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structure of the hollow frame members and the relationship of the slats to the self-centering opening in the side frame members;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed sectional view of the header bracket enabling pivotal and sliding movement of the shutter in relation to the wall surface;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating the shutter of the present invention pivoted outwardly for use as an awning;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the structure for connecting the elongated brace to the lower edge of the shutter;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the attaching bracket for the elongated brace taken generally along reference line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 77 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the manner of attaching a storage bracket on the outer surface of the shutter in order to store additional shutters in stacked relation thereon;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed sectional vie-w taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 88 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the structural details of the center frame member and the relationship of the slats thereto; and

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but illustrating a slightly modified construction.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a shutter which constitutes a portion of the shutter assembly of the present invention which may be constructed in standard widths so that a plurality of such shutters 10 may be disposed in overlying relation to a window 12 surrounded by the usual perimetrical window frame 14. The shutters 10 are selectively positioned in overlying relation to the window 12 or in overlying relation to the vertical wall surface 16 alongside of the window 12 when in the stored position. In FIGURE 1, the left-handed shutter is in the stored position and the right-handed shutter is in overlying position to a portion of the window 12 and the dotted line illustration in the right-hand portion of FIGURE 1 illustrates the stored position of the right-hand shutter. For supporting the shutters 10 from the wall 16, a continuous plate-like header hinge 18 is provided and constructed of extruded aluminum or similar material and the header hinge may be secured to the wall surface 16 by any suitable type of fasteners depending upon the material of the wall. The upper edge of the header hinge 18 is flared outwardly slightly as at 20 and the trough formed with the wall surface 16 may be filled with a sealing material 22. The lower edge of the header hinge 18 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 24 which terminates in a generally partial cylindrical extrusion 26 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 which extends for more than degrees and which terminates in inwardly extending lips 28 all of which are continuous throughout the length of the header hinge 18 to support the shutters for sliding movement and also for pivotal movement in a manner described hereinafter.

The shutter 10 includes a peripheral frame 30 which includes a top or head frame member 32, a lower or bottom frame member 34 and side frame members 36 and in some instances depending upon the width of the shutter, a center frame member 37 may also be provided for receiving a plurality of inclined louvers or slats 38.

As illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 7, the peripheral frame 30 is in the form of -a hollow box beam having an outer L-shaped member 40 forming the outer side of the frame member and the inner wall thereof with the ends of the two flanges of the L-shaped member 40 having inturned lips or flanges 42 and 44 integral therewith. A second L-shaped member 46 cooperates with the L- shaped member 40 to form a box frame and defines the inner side wall of the frame 30 and the outer peripheral wall thereof and the legs of the L-shaped member 46 have inturned flanges or lips 48 and 50 integral therewith so that when the L-shaped members 40 and 46 are associated to form a hollow box beam, the flanges or lips 42, 44, 48 and 50 rigidify and reinforce the box beam. Disposed interiorly of the frame 30 and forming a complete filling therefor is an expanded foam plastic material 50 which may be a Styrofoam or urethane plastic which insulates the frame against noise, vibration and to also grip the ends of the slats or louvers 38 in a manner described hereinafter.

The center frame member 37 or center mull is constructed in the same general manner and is illustrated in FIGURE 8 and includes a pair of L-shaped members 52 and 54 oriented in the same manner as the L-shaped members 40 and 46 in forming the peripheral frame 30. Disposed centrally within the center frame member 37 is an extruded structural I-beam 56 which has the center web thereof perpendicular to the outer and inner faces of the center frame member 37 and with the flanges thereof engaging the inner surfaces of the outer and inner walls of the center frame member 37 and being secured thereto by suitable rivets 58 or the like. The center frame member 37 is also filled with plastic material 58 which may only fill the I-beam structure 56 or may fill the complete center frame member 37. Also, as illustrated in FIGURE 8, the center frame member 37 receives adjacent ends of the aligned slats or louvers 38 in a manner described hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the slats 38 are each provided with rolled side edges as designated at 60 and are slightly curved from edge to edge as illustrated in FIG- URE 2. The inner wall of the frame member 30 and the opposed walls of the center frame member 37 if the center frame member 37 is used is provided with slot-like openings 62 which are inclined in relation to the vertical axis of the frame member 30 when oriented in a vertical position as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The opposite ends of the slot-like openings 62 are rounded as at 64 to receive the rolled edges of the slats or louvers 38 and the portions of the slots 6t) adjacent the rounded ends 64 are each provided with a lateral projection 66 which engages the slat adjacent the rolled edge thereof. In actuality, the slat 38 will be grippingly engaged by the projections 66 at opposite ends of the slot 62 to support the slats at these two points which are at the crevice or inside of the rolled edge 60 of the slat 38 which prevents the slat from being scratched while being assembled.

Where the ends of the side frame members 36 engage the ends of the header frame member 32 and the bottom frame member 34, a suitable riveted connection or the like may be provided.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the structure for retaining the shutter 10 securely either in overlying relation to the window 12 or in stored position alongside of the window 12 in overlying relation to the wall surface 16. This structure includes an internally threaded insert 68 disposed in the wall surface 16 in any conventional manner and this may be one of numerous commercially available inserted plugs either internally threaded or constructed of a material to enable self-tapping of a screw-threaded fastener 70 therein. The threw-threaded fastener 70 extends through the apertured lower end of a depending plate-like bracket 72 which extends upwardly alongside of the inner surface of the lower frame member 30 and is secured thereto as by a suitable fastener such as a rivet 74 or the like. The upper end of the bracket 72 may be integral with or a separate bracket of L-shaped configuration designated by numeral 76 may be supported on the bottom frame member 34 by the rivet or fastener 74.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the separate L-shaped bracket 76 is provided with an upwardly inclined flange 78 having a hollow partially cylindrical member 80 along the free edge thereof which terminates in outwardly flared flanges 82 to receive an anchor rod 84 which may be snapped into the cylindrical member 80 but which is provided with a head 86 on one end thereof and a groove 88 on the other with the grooved end of the rod 84 being insertable through an aperture 90 in the free end of an elongated prop or brace 92 which has the other end thereof pivotally secured to an anchor bracket 94 by a suitable pivot pin or bolt 96. The bracket 94 is anchored to the window frame 14 by suitable fasteners 98 so that the shutter 10 may be supported in an inclined position as illustrated in FIGURE 4 to serve as an awning.

For retaining the brace 90 and the anchor rod 84 in interconnected relation, a flexible plastic retaining strap 100 is provided and is anchored to the bracket 76 by one of the rivets 74 and the other end of the strap 100 is free and provided with an enlarged circular portion 102 having an aperture 104 therein which may be enlarged to snap over the end of the rod 84 having the groove 88 therein and thus become lodged in the groove 88 to retain the brace 90 assembled on the rod 84. The plastic strap 100 may conveniently be constructed of nylon or other suitable plastic material and will be tethered in position for use and will securely retain the brace and rod in interconnected relationship.

With the aforementioned structure, the shutter 10 may be secured in protective overlying relation to the window 12 in parallel relation thereto as illustrated in FIGURE 2 by employing the bracket 72 and fastener 70 or the shutter 10 may be moved by sliding along the header hinge 18 to the stored inoperative position illustrated in FIGURE 1 and also in FIGURE 2 so that the shutter 10 is disposed alongside of the window and secured in position by the fastener 70' and bracket 72.

Another position of the shutter 10 is the awning position in which event the brace or support rod 92 is brought into play and the apertured end 90 thereof is engaged over the anchor rod 84 and the plastic strap 100 employed for securing the anchor rod in place thus supporting the shutter 10 in inclined position to form an awning with the length of the anchor rod 92 determining the slope or inclination of the awning.

The supporting connection between the shutter 10 and the header hinge 18 is in the form of a male bracket 106 of L-shaped configuration secured to the header frame member 32 by suitable fasteners such as rivets 108 with the upper flange thereof being provided with an inclined flange 110 which terminates in a generally partial cylindrical hollow member 112 having outwardly projecting flanges 114 along the edges thereof for interlocking engagement with the flanges 28 to enable longitudinal sliding movement of the male bracket 106 in relation to the header hinge 18 and also enable limited pivotal movement thereof for movement of the shutter from the shutter position to the awning position. Both the female header hinge 18 and the male bracket 106 may be continuous as the brackets 72 are located only at the center of the shutter or adjacent each edge thereof and the brackets 76 and corresponding braces 92 located only at the side edges or the outer side edge of the shutter depending upon the requirements of each individual installation.

In situations where more than two shutters are employed and it is desired to store them in a compact manner, one or more of the shutters 10' may have an L- shaped header hinge 116 attached to the outer surface thereof adjacent the upper edge as illustrated in FIG- URE 7. This header hinge 116 is identical to the header hinge 18 but is inverted and of course, the free edge of the flange 118 is provided with the hollow partial cylindrical female hinge component 120. This enables additional shutters 10 to be supported in overlying relation to the stored shutter 10 so that a plurality of shutters may be supported in stacked relation alongside of a window opening or the like.

It is also pointed out that the L-shaped header hinge 18 illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 7 may be inverted to enable versatility of installation in the event the top edge of the window 12 is adjacent to some type of obstruction such as the roof soffit or the like.

The shutter assembly is preferably constructed of aluminum material provided with a permanent enamel finish which is baked on thus eliminating corrosion and rust and retaining its aesthetic appearances for a long period of time thus enabling the shutter assembly to be constructed in various colors for versatile use. The foam plastic material not only serves to control transmission of sound but also rigidifies and adds strength to the shutter assembly which is also free of the I-beam insert in the center frame member or mull. The continuous header hinge may be installed in either of the positions illustrated in FIGURE 7 to enable ease of installation thereof in various positions. The storage of a plurality of shutter units in stacked relation enables a relatively wide picture window or the like to be protected with the shutter and awning unit and additional anchoring means may be provided for securing the lower edges of the stacked shutters if desired.

Another arrangement in which the shutter units may be provided is in an installation over sliding glass doors such as may lead to a patio or the like in which the shutters are slidably supported by an overhead track unit and a suitable lower guide channel or track may be provided for the lower edge of the shutter unit thus eliminating the necessity of providing a lower anchor bracket. The shutter units may be provided in a single track arrangement or where it is necessary to conserve space, a double or triple track arrangement may be provided. The upper support for the shutter unit may be the continuous header hinge or a conventional track and roller assembly employed in sliding door structures. In this arrangement, the shutter unit still is effective as a shutter to protect the sliding glass doors effectively as a shutter but yet enable the sliding glass doors to be conventionally employed by moving the shutter units to their stored position.

In addition, the shutters may be combined with additional units in various arrangements. For example, a plurality of shutters may be mounted in vertical alignment so that the lower edges of each of the shutter units may be pivoted outwardly into awning position. The units may be employed on screened enclosures, porches, cabana rooms and the like.

The box frame members formed by the L-shaped members may be glued or secured to the foam plastic in any suitable manner such as by using an epoxy bonding material and the components may be secured to each other in the same manner or by self-tapping screws, pop rivets or the like all of which serve to provide a secure connecting arrangement which is substantially rigid in construction and yet free of corrosion, rust, rotting and the like. The construction of the louvers or slats are such that the natural light will enter between the slats and also the slats enable an occupant of a room to observe the exterior of the building but will not permit others to look through the shutters. The shutters and awnings protect the windows from sun, rain and storms and yet provide full ventilation and at the same time produce an attractive unit which is functional both as a shutter and as an attractive awning which is less expensive than wood but much more durable and maintenance free. Also, the structure is lightweight to enable a homeowner to easily install the shutters and also easily position them in the several positions desired. The mounting of the ends of the slats or louvers in the foam plastic so as to insulate the noise normally produced by vibration of the slats or louvers from entering the frame and building structure thereby adding to the comfort and well being of the homeowner since normal noises produced by slat-type or louver-type awnings and shutters will be isolated.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a connecting arrangement between brace 92 and bracket 76 which is somewhat modified as compared with FIGURE 5. In this arrangement, the anchor rod 84' is press fitted into the bracket 76 and the retaining strap 101 is retained on the end of the rod 84 by a retaining ring 103. The free end of the strap 101 is provided with a notch which is snapped into the groove 88' in the rod 84 thereby detachably connecting the brace 92 to the bracket 76.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shutter for use in combination with a wall opening and adapted to be positioned in overlying relation to the wall opening for closing the same comprising: a peripheral frame, said perpiheral frame being in the form of a hollow member, said frame including insulation material substantially filling the hollow interior thereof, and a plurality of substantially parallel spaced slats extending across the open area defined by the peripheral frame and having end portions extending into the hollow interior of the frame with the ends of the slats received in the insulation material for insulating against transmission of noise and vibration between the slats and frame, the opposed facing walls of the peripheral frame having inclined slot-likeopenings therein receiving the slats, each of said slats having rolled side edges with the rolled edges extending laterally from opposite surfaces of the slat, said slot-like openings having corresponding enlarged ends receiving the rolled edges of the slats, each of said slotlike openings having oppositely disposed projections engaging the slats on opposite surfaces thereof adjacent the terminal portion of the roller edge for securing the slats in position without scratching the slats during installation.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with a center hollow frame member extending perpendicularly to the slats and being of hollow construction, said center frame member having insulation material therein and oppositely disposed slot-like openings identical to the slot-like openings in the facing walls of the peripheral frame thereby receiving adjacent ends of adjacent aligned slats, and a reinforcing structural I-beam extending longitudinally through the center frame member for reinforcing the center frame member.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with a continuous header hinge bracket adapted to be mounted on a wall surface above the wall opening, and a hinge bracket mounted on the upper end of the shutter for pivotal and sliding interlocking engagement with the header hinge bracket to enable the shutter to swing in an arcuate manner and slide along the wall surface to a position alongside of the wall opening.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 together with a bracket attached to the lower end of the shutter and depending therefrom for receiving a fastener for securing the lower edge of the shutter to the wall surface in closed overlying relation to the wall opening or in overlying relation to the wall surface in stored position alongside of the wall opening.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 together with a brace member detachably connected to the shutter adjacent the lower end thereof for orienting the shutter in inclined relation to the wall surface for positioning the shutter in an awning position in downwardly diverging relation to the wall opening.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said brace member is in the form of a bar-like member having an apertured end, and means connecting the brace member to the lower end of the shutter, said means comprising an anchor rod having a grooved end portion for insertion through the apertured end of the bar-like member, and a flexible strap of yieldable material having an opening in one end thereof for enlargement to pass into the grooved end of the rod and subsequent engagement in the groove in the grooved end of the anchor rod thereby retaining the brace member attached to the anchor rod.

7. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the outer upper edge of the shutter is provided with a bracket duplicative of the header hinge bracket for attaching additional shutters thereto in stacked overlying relation alongside of the wall opening.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said header hinge bracket has a partial cylindrical hollow member integral therewith and provided with inwardly extending edge flanges, said hinge bracket on the shutter including a partial cylindrical edge member having outwardly diverging lips for interlocking, sliding and pivotal connection with the header hinge bracket.

9. A shutter panel, comprising: a peripheral hollow frame, the opposed facing walls of the peripheral frame having inclined slot-like openings therein, a plurality of substantially parallel spaced slats extending across the area defined by the peripheral frame and having end portions extending through said slot-like openings, said slat having rolled side edges extending laterally from opposite surfaces of the slats, said slot-like openings having corresponding enlarged ends receiving the rolled edges of the slats, and each slot-like opening having oppositely disposed projections engaging the slats on opposite surfaces thereof adjacent the rolled edge for securing the slats in position.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the frame is substantially filled with insulation in the form of foam plastic and the end portions of the slats when extending through the slot-like openings extend into the foam insulation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 525,745 9/1894 Saltmarsh 49158 X 752,348 2/1904 Lutts 52-74 X 1,961,327 6/1934 Barth 49-158 2,785,445 3/1957 Phillips 4971 2,962,956 12/1960 Magyar 52342 X 3,218,770 11/1965 Kennedy 52473 3,263,369 8/1966 Siegal et a1. 49 71 X FOREIGN PATENTS 6,402,689 9/ 1964 Netherlands.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 52-74 

